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Part of Access to Information Act (ATIA)

About Access to Information Act (ATIA)

ATIA provides the rules and processes for accessing records from the Government of Alberta and other public bodies.

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Access to Information Act (ATIA)

Overview

The Access to Information Act (ATIA) is the cornerstone of open, accessible, and accountable government for the people of Alberta. 

The ATIA aims to strike a balance between transparency and the confidentiality required to ensure effective operation of government.

Principles of the ATIA

  1. Any person has a right of access to the records in the custody or under the control of a public body subject to specific and limited exceptions.
  2. Allows individuals a right to access personal information about themselves, subject to specific and limited exceptions.
  3. Provides for independent reviews of decisions made by public bodies and resolution of complaints under the ATIA.

ATIA governance

ATIA regulations

There are 2 supporting regulations that establish administrative and procedural requirements of the Act:

  • Access to Information Regulation, authorized by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, integrates access to information related provisions from the former FOIP Regulation and incorporates new and revised provisions to provide clarity and outline additional information to support the updated legislative requirements under the ATIA.  
  • The Designation of Public Bodies Regulation, under the authority of the Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, is a list of entities that may not definitively meet the requirements established in the ATIA definition of a 'public body' and need to be explicitly designated (such as, by name) as a public body in this Regulation.

The Act and regulations work together to provide detailed, practical guidance to help public bodies implement the new rules. 

Proclamation of law

The Access to Information Act (ATIA) provides access to records held by public bodies in Alberta. Individuals can also submit an ATI request to access their own personal information.

Public bodies under the ATIA include:

Local public bodies administer their own records under the guidance of the ATIA. Some of these include:

  • municipalities
  • post-secondary educational institutions
  • police services and commissions
  • housing management bodies
  • school boards
  • regional health authorities, but health information has additional restrictions under the Health Information Act

Printed copies of the ATIA and regulation can be downloaded from Alberta King’s Printer.

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